Transport case for portable expanding file folders

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/222,571 for PORTABLE EXPANDING FILE WITH TRANSPORT CASE, filed Aug. 3, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of filing devices and, more particularly, to an improved carrying case for removably and detachably holding a portable expanding file folder.

Accordion-like or expanding file folders are commonly used for storage of papers and the like. These folders are preferable to conventional file folders because they save space; they have the ability to expand to hold additional documents; and they allow for more careful and segregated organization of individual documents within the particular folder. Previously, expanding file folders have been designed either for desktop usage or with a closure flap for portability. If the documents housed within the folder have to be transported from one location to another, a user would merely pick up the file folder and carry it from location to location. The desktop version of the known expandable folders without a closure flap is not an optimum design for portability because the open top associated with these types of folders exposes the documents filed therewithin to the elements and there is a greater likelihood that the documents stored therein could fall out of the folder or otherwise become shuffled or rearranged during transportation. This often occurs due to improper handling or positioning of the folder during transportation, improper placement of the folder at a particular location, and/or dropping or otherwise knocking the flapless folder over onto its side. Although the known expandable file folders having a closure flap provide better portability than those without flaps, such folders likewise suffer from disadvantages in that repeated opening and closing of the closure flap leads to wear and tear at the hinge location and normal usage of the closure flaps will eventually lead to separation of the flap from the main body of the folder. In addition, although expanding file folders with flaps provide some protection to the documents contained therein from the elements, such folders are themselves exposed to the inclement weather and may be damaged by rain, snow or other environmental conditions since the known portable expandable file folders are primarily made from some type of paper material.

It is therefore desirable to provide a carrying case that can be used with a plurality of different expanding file folders, the carrying case having the ability to allow one expandable file folder to be easily installed and removed when desired, and thereafter allowing another expandable file folder to be reinstalled within the carrying case for transporting any particular file folder from one location to another. It is also desirable that such a carrying case allow for easy access to the documents contained within the expanding file folder, and that it provide for easy transport and protection of the documents contained therewithin.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a carrying case for expanding or accordion-like file folders wherein the carrying case allows for easy access to the documents contained within the expandable folder; it provides document security during transportation; and it provides protection to both the expanding file folder and the documents contained therein from the elements. In keeping with this objective, a carrying or transport case is provided with a holding mechanism by which any one of a plurality of known expandable file folders can be easily removably attached to the interior of the carrying case. In a preferred embodiment, flexible or resilient tab members are used to engage the side walls of the expandable folder when the folder is positioned within the carrying case, the tab members being positioned and located so as to engage and overlap an edge portion of each folder side wall. When installed, the carrying case becomes part of the file folder and can be used to expand and contract the individual pockets of the file folder in a normal fashion. Other means for removably holding the expandable file folder within the carrying case can likewise be utilized. The present carrying case may likewise include a wide variety of different closure mechanisms for securely closing the carrying case once the expandable folder is attached therewithin for easy grasping when transporting the file folder from one location to another. The present carrying case adds security, weather proofing, and style to the transportation of a basic expandable file folder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present carrying case and a typical expandable file folder positioned for insertion therewithin.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the carrying case of FIG. <b>1</b>.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the carrying case of FIG. 1 illustrating one embodiment of a closure mechanism used to maintain the carrying case in its closed folded position.

FIG. 4 is a top planform view of the carrying case of FIG. 1 in its substantially flat unfolded position.

FIG. 5 is a top planform view of the carrying case similar to FIG. 4 illustrating other means for removably attaching an expandable file folder to the interior of the carrying case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers wherein like numerals refer to like parts, number <b>10</b> in FIGS. 1-4 identifies a transport or carrying case <b>10</b> constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the carrying case <b>10</b> being specifically designed for removably holding and attaching a conventional expandable file folder <b>12</b> via a set of connectors <b>16</b> associated with the interior of the case <b>10</b>. More particularly, carrying case <b>10</b> includes a body member <b>14</b> which is foldable about a central or transverse axis <b>15</b> between a substantially flat, open and unfolded position as best shown in FIG. 4 and a substantially closed folded position as best shown in FIG. <b>3</b>. The body member <b>14</b> is preferably unitary in construction and can be fabricated from a wide variety of different materials such as from polypropylene, polyethylene, wrapped chipboard, wrapped and sealed vinyl, cloth, and other suitable materials. The carrying case <b>10</b> includes a pair of connectors <b>16</b> located at each opposite end of body member <b>14</b> as best shown in FIG. <b>4</b>. In a preferred embodiment, the connectors <b>16</b> are resilient tab members each of which are fixed along at least a portion of one edge portion thereof to the interior surface of body member <b>14</b> in such a manner so as to be flexible or bendable in a direction away from the interior surface of body member <b>14</b>. In this manner, the tab members <b>16</b> can be easily maneuvered into positions overlapping an edge portion of the respective outer side walls <b>22</b> of the expandable folder <b>12</b>. This can be accomplished by either lifting the tab members <b>16</b> over the respective edge portions <b>22</b><i>a </i>of folder side walls <b>22</b>, or the folder side wall edge portions <b>22</b><i>a </i>can be easily maneuvered and positioned under the tab members <b>16</b>. Once the upper edge portions <b>22</b><i>a </i>of the expandable file folder side walls <b>22</b> have been positioned under the respective tab members <b>16</b>, the folder <b>12</b> is securely held within the carrying case <b>10</b> and can be transported therewith as will be hereinafter explained.

Although the carrying case <b>10</b> illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 utilizes a pair of connectors or tab members <b>16</b> at each opposite end of the folder body member <b>14</b>, it is recognized and anticipated that any number of connectors <b>16</b> could be utilized in association with the respective opposite end portions of folder body <b>14</b> depending upon the overall size of the carrying case <b>10</b>, including using a single connector <b>16</b> at each opposite end thereof. It is also recognized that the individual connectors or tabs <b>16</b> can be attached or otherwise permanently affixed along at least a portion of one edge portion thereof to the interior surface of body member <b>14</b> through any conventional means such as by gluing, heat sealing, stitching or by using other suitable attaching or fastening means.

Expandable file folder <b>12</b> is of a conventional construction and may be likewise fabricated from a variety of materials, including paper, cardboard, file folder stock, and other materials similar to those used in fabricating carrying case <b>10</b>. Expandable folder <b>12</b> includes outer side walls <b>22</b> having upper edge portions <b>22</b><i>a, </i>expandable end walls <b>18</b> and a plurality of individual partitions <b>20</b> which define a plurality of expandable pockets therebetween. The side walls <b>22</b> preferably have a greater thickness than the partitions <b>20</b> thereby providing added structural integrity to the overall folder. The upper edge side wall portions <b>22</b><i>a </i>slide beneath connectors <b>16</b> in the preferred embodiment of carrying case <b>10</b>. Connectors <b>16</b> hold the file folder <b>12</b> firmly in place such that when the case <b>10</b> is opened and closed, the expandable folder <b>12</b> will open and close in unison therewith. Once installed, the expandable folder <b>12</b> can be carried from one location to another within the carrying case <b>10</b>. The carrying case <b>10</b> provides security and protection to the folder <b>12</b> and the documents positioned therewithin during transport and it provides protection during times of inclement weather. Access to documents contained within the expandable folder <b>12</b> can be easily achieved by merely unfolding or opening the carrying case <b>10</b> in a normal fashion. Importantly, the expandable folder <b>12</b> can be easily disengaged from the connectors <b>16</b> by merely sliding or otherwise moving either the respective connectors <b>16</b> or the upper edge portions <b>22</b><i>a </i>of the outer side walls <b>22</b> in a direction so as to disengage the side wall edge portions <b>22</b><i>a </i>from under the connectors <b>16</b>. Once this is accomplished, the expandable file folder <b>12</b> can be easily withdrawn from the carrying case <b>10</b> and another folder can be positioned and secured therewithin.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the carrying case <b>10</b> may likewise include a zipper member <b>24</b> for securely holding the carrying case <b>10</b> in its closed and carrying or transport position, the zipper member <b>24</b> providing additional security and protection to the expandable folder <b>12</b> and the documents contained therein. The zipper member <b>24</b> is attached to body portion <b>26</b> which extends substantially around and along the perimeter of body member <b>14</b> as best shown in FIG. <b>1</b>. Body portion <b>26</b> could be made of a nylon material and could be integrally formed with body member <b>14</b>, or body portion <b>26</b> could be otherwise attached to body member <b>14</b> by any suitable means. The carrying case <b>10</b> may be constructed with one or two zipper members, and it is recognized and anticipated that other closure mechanisms such as snap fasteners, clasp type closures, VELCRO fastening members and other similar mechanisms could be used in place of zipper member <b>24</b>.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the folder body member <b>14</b> may be scored or fluted along certain lines <b>28</b> in the vicinity of central axis <b>15</b> in order to increase the foldability and flexibility of carrying case <b>10</b>. This scored or fluted spine area <b>28</b> facilitates the expanding of the file folder <b>12</b> as it is installed and used in conjunction with the carrying case <b>10</b>. This scored or fluted area also facilitates opening and closing of the carrying case <b>10</b> during normal use and helps to extend the useful life of the case <b>10</b>.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of carrying case <b>10</b> wherein the resilient tab connectors <b>16</b> can be replaced with a wide variety of different types of cooperatively engagable, connector means <b>30</b> such as cooperating snap fasteners, VELCRO fastening members, and other similar mechanisms. In this situation, the outer side walls <b>22</b> of expandable folder <b>12</b> will likewise include reciprocal cooperating connectors <b>30</b> as illustrated in FIG. 1 in order to complete the engagement. In this regard, the cooperatively engagable means <b>30</b> will be appropriately positioned and located on the interior surface of body member <b>14</b> and on the outer surface of folder side walls <b>22</b> such that when the expandable folder <b>12</b> is positioned within the carrying case <b>10</b>, the cooperatively engagable connectors <b>30</b> will mate and engage with each other to securely hold the folder <b>12</b> in operative engagement within the carrying case <b>10</b>. It is recognized and anticipated that still other types of connectors or attachment means could likewise be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is also recognized that the number and placement of the connectors <b>16</b> and <b>30</b> may vary depending upon the size and shape of the carrying case <b>10</b> and corresponding file folder <b>12</b>. Still further, it is recognized that still other connecting means and still other modifications to the placement of the connectors <b>16</b> or <b>30</b> would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art.

As can be seen from the disclosure above, the carrying case <b>10</b> can be utilized to safely and securely transport documents positioned within an expandable folder from one location to another without worry that the documents will somehow become damaged or lost during the transportation process. The ease by which an expandable file folder can be installed, removed, and another folder reinstalled within the carrying case <b>10</b> further adds to the value and utility of the present invention.

As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalence thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. It is accordingly intended that the claims shall cover all such modifications and applications that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.